1
as in fires
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force
BB guns shoot small round metal pellets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in pops
to strike with a missile from a gun
hunters can shoot deer only during the legally specified open season
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in rushes
to proceed or move quickly
some show-off shot past all the other skiers on the slope
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in photographs
to take a photograph of
shooting the lakeside scene while the light lasted
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in casts
to throw or give off
suddenly the old, broken-down toaster began shooting out sparks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in shouts
to voice one's opinions freely with force
you've been wanting to say something since this meeting started, so shoot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in sprinkles
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
hazel eyes that were brown shot with green
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in sends
to cause to go or be taken from one place to another
shot a congratulatory e-mail to his friend as soon as he heard the good news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in limbs
a branch of a main stem especially of a plant
collected the most tender shoots for the vegetable dish he was making
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in pains
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body
there'd be a shoot of pain from that molar whenever I bit down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shoots
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The officer shoots a second time.
—Claire Galofaro, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
In that moment, detective Priya fatally shoots Lexi, having rushed to the house after making the connection from a yearbook and the trail of friendship bracelets that Anna, Lexi, and the victims all knew each other.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
What made this one death memorable--coming out of a nation that routinely shoots into crowds of protesters--is that the whole episode was caught on video.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
Helen shoots him a warning look—but she’s amused by his little hint.
—Allegra Goodman, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
Summers, who is wearing a yellow and blue costume, shoots a red beam out of his eyes while on his knees, presumably after some sort of tragic loss.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
In Argentina, the journey to the Devil’s Throat begins aboard the open-air Ecological Train and ends at a balcony that shoots out over the falls.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
An elderly man sits on the floor, dozens of bodies lying around him, before a Sudanese rebel fighter approaches and shoots him.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
And holding on a bit longer to see how Puma’s turnaround progresses could turn into a benefit because evidence of some green shoots could raise bids for the brand.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
That’s played out across numerous collaborations over the last few decades, with pop culture-defining shoots lensed by Steven Klein and tours that followed costumed by the house.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
Instead, the sectors that are seeing green shoots are those which require vocational or skills, jobs that historically have not required high-level academic qualifications.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
New Growth New growth, including fresh buds and tiny green shoots, is an excellent indicator that the plant will thrive at home.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
There’s 16 seconds left and a player shoots — misses — the Bulldogs get the ball, shoot — another miss.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The shoots will feature the main cast’s family and friends gathering to celebrate an anniversary.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Productions are increasingly consolidating multi-day shoots, suggesting greater efficiency and stronger coordination across agencies, MOME said.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
The expansion Raptors shoots 0-for-3 from the foul line.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The officer shoots a second time.
—Claire Galofaro, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
In that moment, detective Priya fatally shoots Lexi, having rushed to the house after making the connection from a yearbook and the trail of friendship bracelets that Anna, Lexi, and the victims all knew each other.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
What made this one death memorable--coming out of a nation that routinely shoots into crowds of protesters--is that the whole episode was caught on video.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
Helen shoots him a warning look—but she’s amused by his little hint.
—Allegra Goodman, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
Summers, who is wearing a yellow and blue costume, shoots a red beam out of his eyes while on his knees, presumably after some sort of tragic loss.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
In Argentina, the journey to the Devil’s Throat begins aboard the open-air Ecological Train and ends at a balcony that shoots out over the falls.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
An elderly man sits on the floor, dozens of bodies lying around him, before a Sudanese rebel fighter approaches and shoots him.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
Don’t want tender young shoots popping out when another polar vortex is right around the corner.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
And holding on a bit longer to see how Puma’s turnaround progresses could turn into a benefit because evidence of some green shoots could raise bids for the brand.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
That’s played out across numerous collaborations over the last few decades, with pop culture-defining shoots lensed by Steven Klein and tours that followed costumed by the house.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
Instead, the sectors that are seeing green shoots are those which require vocational or skills, jobs that historically have not required high-level academic qualifications.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
New Growth New growth, including fresh buds and tiny green shoots, is an excellent indicator that the plant will thrive at home.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
There’s 16 seconds left and a player shoots — misses — the Bulldogs get the ball, shoot — another miss.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The shoots will feature the main cast’s family and friends gathering to celebrate an anniversary.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Productions are increasingly consolidating multi-day shoots, suggesting greater efficiency and stronger coordination across agencies, MOME said.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoots
Verb
-
The cartridge fires a 40-grain bullet at approximately 1,260 feet per second.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Oh, and if Indiana fires him without cause, Cignetti would be due 100% of his remaining salary.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As Europop blasts from the speakers, the dancer performs cartwheels and backflips in the general vicinity of the robot, which at one point drops to the floor to crank out some push-ups.—
James Vincent,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
-
And then, out of nowhere, the Mandarin blasts you with a force beam just before Fin Fang Foom tries punching your iron head through your iron rectum.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Pull the linguistic thread a little further, and the word pops up as a mark of frustration.—
L. Carol Ritchie,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Not so in Canada, as the Blackhawks star pops up in commercials pretty frequently — including a CIBC ad with none other than Connor McDavid, which seems to be running on a loop north of the border.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The woman who later identified herself as Good's partner rushes to the Honda Pilot.—
Chris Looft,
ABC News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Denver’s defense rushes the passer as well as any other team in the league.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Catherine Leroy photographs her jump in operation, in February, 1967.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Also, include at least one lamp that casts a soft glow for relaxing or reading.—
Sheila Kim,
The Spruce,
4 Jan. 2026
-
When this happens, Earth casts two shadows on the moon.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Hilliker shouts as her family applauds them.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Eilish shouts from the open window.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Much like Knives Out, the movie takes a much more lighthearted approach and sprinkles humor throughout.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
15 Dec. 2025
-
The shareable treat features Galactic Brownie ice cream, fudge drizzle, M&Ms candies, and Halloween sprinkles atop a double fudge brownie crust.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shoots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoots. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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